American Samoa
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16,512
Total Church Membership
Population vs. Church Members
5
Stakes
43
Congregations
5
FamilySearch Centers
History
In 1863 Kimo Pelio and Samuela Manoa—two missionaries sent from Hawai‘i—brought the restored gospel to the Samoan Islands. Due to disruptions in the Church in Hawai‘i, the additional missionaries they expected never arrived, but both chose to remain on the islands. In 1888 Joseph and Florence Dean arrived to formally open a mission. By 1900, when Samoa was divided into a western, German-governed territory and an eastern, American-governed territory, there were over 1,000 Latter-day Saints on the islands.
In the early 1900s, in addition to teaching the gospel, the Church organized schools and helped build up Mapusaga as a gathering center. As the Church became more established in the mid-20th century, many American Samoans learned career and Church leadership skills while serving as labor missionaries. In 1969 the first stake in American Samoa was organized.
In 1977 President Spencer W. Kimball announced plans to build a temple in Pago Pago, American Samoa, but the location of the temple was later changed to Apia, Samoa. American Samoan Saints “gave after their ability” (Ezra 2:69) to help build the Apia temple, which was dedicated in 1983. The Church in American Samoa has continued to grow: by 2012 there were five stakes in American Samoa, and in 2019 President Russell M. Nelson announced new plans for a temple in Pago Pago.
For Journalist Use Only
Richard Hunter
New Zealand
Phone: 64(9)488-5572
Mobile: 64-21-240-7804
Africa
Total Church Membership
736,701
Members
2,476
Congregations
Missions
39Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
5Temples
Asia
Total Church Membership
1,259,094
Members
2,110
Congregations
Missions
45Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
8Temples
Europe
Total Church Membership
500,239
Members
1,350
Congregations
Missions
34Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
14Temples
North America
Total Church Membership
9,489,479
Members
18,476
Congregations
Missions
174Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
112Temples
Oceania (Pacific)
Total Church Membership
587,462
Members
1,301
Congregations
Missions
18Missions
FamilySearch Centers
Temples
10Temples
South America
Total Church Membership
4,232,425
Members
5,602
Congregations